Pilates was featured in the About.com Today Newsletter today. Maybe you saw it? In it, editor Bob Schulties let us in his real questions about Pilates. I want to share them here because they are fun, but also because they have answers that are probably not what Bob (or maybe you) expected.
Bob asks: Can I do it at my desk? Will it make me look Romanesque? Can I do it in a sling? Do I have to put down my Ring Ding? That's what everyone wants to know, right? Well maybe not. But let's take Bob's questions one by one:
Can I do it at my desk? Why yes you can. You can't do a full Pilates routine at your desk, but you can take Pilates principles of movement wherever you go. That's a lot of the point of Pilates. Plus there are many Pilates exercises and stretches that can be adapted to being at your desk. Please see:
5 Pilates Moves You Can Do Anytime
Pilates Benefits in Everyday Life
Will it make me look Romanesque? If by Romanesque you mean overdeveloped muscles then absolutely not. Pilates is all about long, lean muscles and uniform development of the body. Please see:
The Eccentric Contraction - creating long muscles with Pilates
What is Means to Get in Shape with Pilates
Can I do it in a sling? Yes you can! A sling is actually part of a piece of Pilates equipment called the cadillac. You can also do a lot of Pilates exercises with your exercise band acting as a sling, and there is another kind of big sling called the Stretch-eze band that is like a body sling that is very helpful in getting the feel of some Pilates exercises. Please see:
Photo of a Pilates cadillac with a person using the sling
Review of the Stretch-eze Band
Exercise Band Exercises
Oh, and if you are really in a sling, here is a story you will want to read: How a Broken Collarbone Taught Me So Much
Do I have to put down my Ring Ding? Sadly, yes. You cannot do Pilates and eat a ring ding at the same time. But on the bright side, you can keep the ring part! We use Pilates rings all the time. Not only that, but once you get going, you are not even going to want that ring ding. Please see:
About Pilates Rings
What to Eat for Pilates
Natural Nutrition and Exercise
Weight Loss with a Healthy Lifestyle
We had some fun with Bob's questions, but you might have some other Pilates questions. If you do, there are a lot of resources here for you. Take a look around the site, take advantage of the search bar, and here are a few links that will get you started:
How to Get Started in Pilates
Pilates FAQs -- Advice and Tips
Ask a question in the Pilates Forum
You can also let us know what your questions are here. Comments are welcome below.
